Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

António Ramos Rosa

A God Asleep in a Garden

I saw his smile in the shadows of the leaves
and watched him go to sleep. I felt a plunging
into placid waters. A treasure
glittered among the stones and flowing weeds.
How tranquil that passion, all silence and light!
Like a large green boat, the foliage was under sail.
The heart of summer throbbing in the cicadas.
The smile of the god an infinite beginning.
In sleep desire opened out completely
in a corolla of water, fire, and air.
Symbols dissipated into instant certainty.
We were at reality’s blazing heart.

Um Deus Adormecido num Jardim

Um Deus Adormecido num Jardim

Eu vi o seu sorriso sob a sombra das folhas
e vi-o adormecer. Senti que mergulhava
em plácidas águas. Um tesouro
fulgurava entre as pedras e os limos.
Que tranquila a paixão, toda silêncio e luz!
Como um grande barco verde a folhagem navegava.
O coração do estio pulsava nas cigarras.
O sorriso do deus era um começo infinito.
O desejo no sono abria-se completo
numa corola de água, fogo e ar.
Os símbolos desfizeram-se em imediatas evidências.
Estávamos no seio da realidade ardente.
Close

A God Asleep in a Garden

I saw his smile in the shadows of the leaves
and watched him go to sleep. I felt a plunging
into placid waters. A treasure
glittered among the stones and flowing weeds.
How tranquil that passion, all silence and light!
Like a large green boat, the foliage was under sail.
The heart of summer throbbing in the cicadas.
The smile of the god an infinite beginning.
In sleep desire opened out completely
in a corolla of water, fire, and air.
Symbols dissipated into instant certainty.
We were at reality’s blazing heart.

A God Asleep in a Garden

I saw his smile in the shadows of the leaves
and watched him go to sleep. I felt a plunging
into placid waters. A treasure
glittered among the stones and flowing weeds.
How tranquil that passion, all silence and light!
Like a large green boat, the foliage was under sail.
The heart of summer throbbing in the cicadas.
The smile of the god an infinite beginning.
In sleep desire opened out completely
in a corolla of water, fire, and air.
Symbols dissipated into instant certainty.
We were at reality’s blazing heart.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère